Electrical heating device



R. M. SPARKS ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICE Aug. 25, 1931.

Filed May 21. 1950 paid-Jimm- J-illllllll ATTORNY Patented Aug. 25, 1931IROBEJEML M. SPARKS, OF DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICEApplication filed May 21,

My present invention has reference to an electrical heating deviceprimarily designed for use in connection with boilers, water heaters,radiators and like plants or devices, but, of course, susceptible foruse in various other connections.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an electricalheater which shall be of a comparatively simple construction, cheaplymanufactured, easily assembled and which shall be safe in use as thesame is protected from any liability of short circuit.

A still further object is the provision of a heating device thatincludes an outer metallic cylinder designed to contain therein an oilor other insulating material, the said cylinder having tightly fixed tothe open mouth thereof an insulator top provided with a vent opening forthe expansion of the oil, a spirally grooved'core of porcelain or thelike in whose groove there is arranged the coil heating element,insulator spacer members for holding the core,v and'the element fromcontact with the casing, a conductor rod which passes through theinsulator top and the upper spacer element and to which one of the endwires of the coil is connected, the said conductor being surrounded by aporcelain tube to protect the same, a second and longerconductor whichpasses centrally through the top, the core and both of the spacerelements and to which the second end of the coil is connected, theportion of the last mentioned conductor above the upper spacer elementbeing surrounded and protected by a porcelain tube and both of theconductors affording terminals for the circuit wires.

A further object is the provision of a heater element which may bearranged either vertically, horizontally or angularly in a boiler, waterheater or the like.

The invention will'be fully and comprehensively understood from aconsideration of the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings which form part of theapplication, with the understanding, however, that the improvement iscapable of extended application andis not confined to the exact 1930.Serial No. 454,402.

showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and,therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as donot affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an approximately central verlongitudinal sectional Viewthrough the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is, a sectional View on the line 33 of Figure l. In. thedrawings the numeral 1 designates the metallic cylindrical casing of theimprovement. The casing has a closed bottom and an open top. In theshowing of the drawings I have screwed around the open top of the casingl a ring flange 2 which may be either of metal or of insulating materialand secured to the flange 2, by set screws 3, there is the insulator top4 of the device.

In the showing of the drawings the easing 1 is partly filled with an oil5. The oil, of course, is in the nature of an insulator and in lieu ofthe oil any other desirable insulating material may be employed. The top4 has a vent opening 6 to permit of the expansion of the oil 5 when thesame becomes heated in a manner which will presently be described.

in the casing 1, below the level of the oil 5, and also at a suitabledistance above the closed bottom of the said casing there are arrangedcombined insulator and spreader members 7 and 8, respectively.Preferably and as disclosed by the drawings these members aresubstantially cross-shaped in plan, that is, each of the members has itsbody formed with extensions 9 whose edges are rounded and each of theextensions 9 is provided with an opening 10. Also the center of each ofthe members 7 and 8 is provided. with a round opening.

Between the insulator members 7 and 8 there is arranged a spirallygrooved core 11 of porcelain or the like, and in the groove of the corethere is arranged the spirally wound heater element 12. The lower andstraight end of the heater element 12 passes diffuse the same into thesurrounding air. through one of the openings 10 in the lower The oil,mica or other non-electric conductor member 8. There is arranged on thelower in the casing provides an additional heat terminal a brass or likerod 18 that passes retaining and heat diffusing means so that 5 throughthe central openings in the memwater or other substance can be quicklyhere 7 and 8, through a central opening in heated by the device when thecasing therethe core and through a central opening in; ofis::immersed;,1 therein, ivThe; spirally the insulator top 4. This endot-the-heater grooved-porcelain. or glass-core 11 prevents element isclamped between lock nuts. l4, thesagging or bending of any part of the19 respectively, which are screwed on the lower heating element 12 andit will be noted that end of the rod 18. there are only two connectionsfor the heat It is to be noted that the members? and ing .element 12,the same being the rods 20 8 have their outer edges disposed slightlyand 13, and as these rods are connected by away from the inner wall ofthe casing 1 glOCk nutsthepossibility of the same becom- 15 and that thespaces between the right anguing loosened and the short circuiting ot'the lar extensions-t) and the said membersfi and. device. isireducedatoLa minimumnand also 8 and likewisethe openings permit of thethatwitlr'my.construction-a number of-parts passage of the oil or-likeinsulator 4 thcre-- ordinarilyi'employedrarczeliminated; ItLWlllthrough. be-ifurther. noted? thatishould: the-heating,Surrounding'theportion of the -r0d-13- elementburn-outiorbecomewbrokenit cannot that is arranged be'tweerrtheupper member contactwith the brass conductonrodolii: so

7 and the top or closure 5 there-is'a porcethat anyliability: ofshortqcircuitinghin; this lain tube and this tube'is held in tightparticulariinstance. is; also-effectively overcontact with the saidmember- 5 and-witlr come.- ItiWItll beiunthennoted thatrby plac-v thetop 4 through the medium of a bindinging-theretumelectricgcurrentathroughthe.

nut 16 which is screwedon the upperor metals-conductor rod 13,:wvhich:isarranged outer end of the rod. 1 Another-binding nutinthe.centeriottheinsulatorcore,11, a sav- 17 is also screwed on therodandthesenuts inga ofspaceis reflected-j I 'Will be further griptherebetween thereturn wire '18 for 'apparentst attthe.c sing 1 i r gh nthe source of electricity; that thelubricantfi, in additiontorthe tune:

The upper straight end of the wire provid tion. thereforabovesetforth:aotsi as ;a pro,-

ing the heatingcoil 12,56 d m d b t SGIXVBIJfOI -,hlleilfeslsfianflecoil to prevent the,

binding nuts 19 that are screwedon the-Same/readily!bumllingvoutfinal-consequently lower end ofa copper or likerod-20 which PIBSBIVEJthQ f t filwini.

passesthrough one of the openings 10 in-the' When thedevice isarranged-horizontallyupper insulator spacer member 17 and gu ly the?Vent 6 is Phwfid atflnycm through 'an opening-in the-insulator top -4venientwlocationrithon ontthetop or in the, of the improvement. The rod17 issur-' bodyiofi'thlcafiingflrounded-bya porcelain tube 21ar-rangedbe- Hal-ling*desclibedmeinyentlfimnl Claim? "tween the member 7and the innepface f 1. Ali. electrical heater'inoludinga metal,- theinsulator top 4 and the tube is held" in licncasing rhavinguan;insulating S bstance tight-gripping engagement ith th aid thereinan-dilnavingiani insulator top,,a spir-- members 4 and? through themedium of a ally groovedvporcelaimzcorevin. the ,casing,, binding nut 21which is screwed on the outer insulator ,spacer-.-;elementsz contacting;with end of the c nductor 0d A secondi and. thehendsiofnthe' heater, 5L:hGEtEI'uCOllnillL the outer: binding nut 22 is screwed on the-saidgroove, a metalnrodtcxtendingi throughwthe outer end 23 of conductorrod- 20 and be spacer elements thevcoreandttheltopptthe; tween the nuts21 and 22 there is clamped casing, binding nutsionitheends-of theu'od,the end 24 of a conductor that is connected thez'low-enbindingwnutsisecuringAthmebe-v with a source of power 'for directingelectween one iendtoi the heater. coilsandathei tricity through theconductor 20;. and upper-bindingnutsubeingiconnectedwith: an; throughthe coil 12, therod 13 being in the electriciconduotona porcclaintubcsurroundnature of a return conduct0r.- ing the portion of the rod abovethe. upper 7 With my improvement it will be seen that spacer-member, aconductor. rodibetween the the conductor rods 20 and-18 are-held spaceduppervspacerr memben and-the top,.;binding tromthe'insulator tubes 20and 15 and from nuts :on the .ends thereof, the inner binding theinsulating material 5 in the'casing 1. nuts being connected tothewsecondnend of It will be further noted that there is no dan-'thetcoil. and; the .outer binding-nuts being I gerof short circuitingthe device regardless connected-to. the secondaviraof the' conduc-i ofthe position in which it is-arranged as tor.

the insulator members 7 and 8 holdthe core 2'. fAmelBc vicllcfliteri-llcludinga metal case 11 and the coil 12 from any liabilityof com ing..l1avingi.a substances-of insulating-- 1113+. tact with themetal casing 1. It will be ap teri-alitherein, an; insulator.C0Vl-I'8lI10'Vlbly parent that the electric current --passingsecuredtorthepopenvend 10f the casingnandthrough the coil 12- will generateheat and havinga vent ,porttherethirough,upperxand lower insulatorsubstantially cross-shaped spacer members in the casing having openingsin the branches thereof, a spirally grooved porcelain core between thespacer members, a spirally wound heating wire in the groove, a conductorrod between the upper spacer member and the top, binding nuts on theends of the said rod, the lower binding nuts being connected to one endof a heater coil and the upper nuts being connected to a source ofelectricity, a porcelain sleeve surrounding the rod, a second and longerrod extending centrally through the core, the spacer members and thetop, binding nuts on the ends thereof, the lower binding nuts clampingthe second end of the heater coil therebetween and the outer bindingnuts clamping the return wire for the source of electricitytherebetween.

3. An electric heater including a metallic casing having an insulatorsubstance therein partly filling the same, a flanged ring screwed on themouth of the casing, a top of? insulating material arranged over thering, set screws securing the top to the ring, upper and lowersubstantially cross-shaped spacer members of insulating material, havingopenings adjacent to the ends thereof, a spirally grooved porcelain corebetween the spacer members, a metal rod between the upper spacer memberand the top having binding nuts screwed on the ends thereof, the innerbinding nuts clamping therebetween one end of the heater coil and theouter binding nuts clamping therebetween a conductor from a source ofelectricity, a porcelain tube surrounding the rod and ar ranged betweenthe top and the upper spacer member, a metal conductor rod passingcentrally through the core, the spacer members and the top, binding nutsscrewed on the ends of said rod, the lower binding nuts clampingtherebetween the lower or second end of the heater coil and the upperbinding nuts clamping therebetween a return wire for the source ofelectricity and a porcelain sleeve arranged between the upper spacermember and the top and surrounding the portion of the last mentioned rodeX- tending beyond the upper spacer member and said heater having a ventopening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT M. SPARKS.

